[ODFW-News] Winter steelhead fishing is heating up

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Winter steelhead fishing is heating up
 
SALEM - Even though spring is right around the corner, winter steelhead
angling throughout western Oregon is reaching its peak. 
 
Officials today reminded anglers that many areas throughout the state
are reporting good fishing opportunities. 
 
"With north coast rivers receding in early February, fishing has been
excellent for both wild and hatchery winter steelhead," said Assistant
District Fish Biologist Chris Knutsen. 
 
The Lower Columbia tributaries that include Gnat Creek, Big Creek and
the North Fork Klaskanine River are open to catch-and-release angling
for wild winter steelhead. Fishing opportunities also are available on
the Lewis and Clark River, Young's River, and the South Fork Klaskanine
River. 
 
The Necanicum River offers excellent small stream steelhead fishing
throughout the winter season. The hatchery steelhead run is over, but
catch-and-release angling for wild fish will continue until the fishery
closes March 31. 
 
Hatchery runs on the North Fork Nehalem River are winding down, but a
few quality hatchery fish are expected to be available into March. Wild
steelhead will continue to be available in the North Fork Nehalem until
the fishery closes March 31.
 
Mainstem Nehalem River anglers report the river is in good shape for
fishing and has been a very productive catch-and-release fishery for
wild steelhead. Best angling is February to early April and some
steelhead over 20 pounds are caught from this river. Access to the river
is along Nehalem Forest Road. The Salmonberry River, a tributary of the
Nehalem about 7 miles above Nehalem Falls, provides good wild steelhead
angling in February and March. The Salmonberry closes at the end of
March.
 
Good catches of hatchery-origin, wild broodstock winter steelhead were
reported in the Wilson River during February, and success on these fish
is expected to be good through March if river levels cooperate. The
Trask River continues to produce a few hatchery strays and will present
good catch-and-release fishing for wild steelhead through March. 
 
Lower river levels provided good winter steelhead angling on the
Nestucca and Three Rivers. Catch rates were high for both wild and
hatchery fish. Most of the bright hatchery fish being caught now are
returning wild brood hatchery fish. The best opportunity for bright fish
is in the lower river, downstream from the Farmer Creek Boat Ramp.
Fishing for both hatchery-origin wild broodstock fish and wild fish will
improve with more rain. The Little Nestucca River is currently low and
clear but will have wild steelhead available for catch-and release
through March 31.
 
Winter steelhead fishing in the Umpqua Basin has been good. Hatchery and
wild fish sizes have been averaging from 5 to 8 pounds and there have
been some large wild males caught, between 34 and 42 inches. 
 
"There are some large hatchery fish being caught and this fishery is a 1
and 5 for non-clipped fish," said Assistant District Fish Biologist Sam
Moyers in Newport. 
 
One and 5 means 1 fish a day and 5 fish per year statewide. 
 
The Drift Creek-Siletz River, Drift Creek-Alsea River, Yachats River,
Cummins Creek, Tenmile Creek and Big Creek, south of Tenmile Creek, are
providing good opportunities for catch and release of wild winter
steelhead. 
 
"March is a hot month for wild fish catch and release on the mid-coast
streams and there are a lot of fishing opportunities," said Assistant
District Fish Biologist Derek Wilson in Newport.
 
The Siletz River has been producing good harvest rates of hatchery
winter steelhead over the last few weeks and will continue to do so
through March. 
 
The Alsea River was providing anglers good success in catching hatchery
winter steelhead but has slowed down recently. Fishing should remain
fair to good through February and slow to fair through March as this
hatchery return tends to be an early run.
 
Anglers fishing the Siuslaw River have been successful in locating and
netting hatchery winter steelhead over the last couple weeks and this
trend should continue through March.
 
Anglers and biologists in the Coos, Coquille and Tenmile basins are
waiting for the next rainfall that will bring new steelhead into the
basins. 
 
"Much of the earlier run component was hatchery fish, which is typical,"
said District Fish Biologist Mike Gray in Charleston. "As we move into
March, there should still be hatchery fish available, but the percentage
of wild fish should increase." 
 
Winter steelhead returns to South Coast rivers and streams appear to be
slightly above average in 2006. Anglers still have a chance to net late
run winter steelhead during March in South Coast streams, especially
Sixes, Elk, and Chetco Rivers. Steelhead fishing enthusiasts can expect
almost half of the catch during March to be composed of spawned out
steelhead. The harvest of non-adipose fin-clipped steelhead is allowed
on all listed South Coast streams, 1 per day and 5 per year, except
Floras/New River and Brush Creek. The fishery closes after March 31 on
all non-Rogue River South Coast streams. 
 
The Rogue River offers steelhead fishing opportunities nearly every
month of the year. Winter steelhead migrate up the Rogue from December
through May, followed by summer steelhead May through November. A strong
run of wild winter steelhead is supplemented by releases of hatchery
fish in the Rogue and Applegate rivers.
 
Rain is in the forecast and that is good news for those interested in
winter steelhead fishing. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
maintains a rigorous stocking and fishery management program throughout
Oregon to maximize angling opportunities.
###